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  #1  
Old 03-12-2006, 09:33 PM
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Question Engine Oil Consumption?

Greetings! I am the proud owner of a 2000 ML320, my first ML! Hence, I am not that familiar with the intricatries of the MLs. My 320 has 70k and I purchased it from the original owner, who had all the service records (which were done at our local MB dealer and up to date, as were all the recalls except the cat replacement which I have had done). My question is concerning acceptable oil consumption between Services A or B? Also, I am curious if the FSS projected life of the oil (Mobil 1 0-40 Syn) is to be trusted and/or followed? I have driven about 5000 miles since the A Service and just had to add one qt of Mobil 1. Is this acceptable? The FSS is showing that I still have 6000 miles until my next service. This just seems way to many miles, as the oil certainly appeared very "dirty" (dark) to me! I would be most thankful for any responses to this issue.

Thanks & God Bless!

Rick
http://www.embracehisgrace.com

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  #2  
Old 03-13-2006, 12:51 AM
Ali Al-Chalabi's Avatar
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I would personally advise changing the oil twice as often as recommended. Yes, the FSS will recommend oil change intervals somewhere around every 10k-12k miles.

1 quart of oil per 5,000 miles is more than acceptable.
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  #3  
Old 03-13-2006, 07:33 AM
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Smile Thanks!

Thanks, Ali! Just as suspected, the FSS is overly generous in its appraisal of the quality and effectiveness of the oil. A good idea and useful system but not that practical in the world of everyday driving. Indeed I think I shall schedule a service soon. I am glad the oil consumption is within the acceptable range, again as I suspected it to be; however, I am slightly, very slightly disappointed even in that amount of oil consumption. My ML is in excellent condition, as I mentioned has had all the required MB service at the dealer, no, not one, oil leak, runs perfect, so I was rather surprised honestly when I pulled the dipstick to see it one qt low. Not a problem though.

Thanks & God Bless!

Rick
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  #4  
Old 03-13-2006, 08:14 AM
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I have used synthetic oils in my personal cars for YEARS & never let them go past 6000 miles on a change!

AS suggested don't go 10K miles on any oil change!
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  #5  
Old 03-13-2006, 08:43 AM
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I also have a 2000 ML320 with 58,000 miles that I had purchased new and have enjoyed tremendously. My dealer has been excellent and performed all of the updates that have been known problems before I had experienced any failures. Since new, I have been using synthetic oil and splitting the FSS requirement for oil/oil filter change interval changing oil approximately every 6,000 miles. My 1995 C280 gets changed every 5,000 miles with synthetic only because it is easier for me to remember by looking at the odometer. Considering what you spend on gasoline, oil changes (yes, even synthetic) when done by yourself are cheap insurance.

I keep very accurate records of my fuel mileage and have noticed an approximate 5% increase in fuel mileage when using synthetic over conventional oil. This, in essence, pays for the increased cost of the oil and in addition offers increased protection for the engine when operating under extreme or abnormal conditions.

I just returned from my mountainhouse last night and am able to get there and back on less than a tankful of fuel. With my ML320 loaded with four adults, my dog and the cargo area full, I recorded 25.5 mpg (AC running half the time)!

Congratulations on your new purchase, this vehicle is one of the most comfortable vehicles to ride/drive. I should know, on several occasions I have driven this vehicle for a little over 1,000 miles with only refueling stops and still have not felt tired of driving.
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  #6  
Old 03-13-2006, 08:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Al-Chalabi
I would personally advise changing the oil twice as often as recommended. Yes, the FSS will recommend oil change intervals somewhere around every 10k-12k miles.

1 quart of oil per 5,000 miles is more than acceptable.
Wow, my 1995 E300D (when I had it) never needed even half a quart between oil changes and I changed about every 5000 miles using Rotella.
Why did I sell HER?!!
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  #7  
Old 03-13-2006, 09:21 AM
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It is normal for an internal combustion engine to burn some oil between changes.

I believe that the M112 will naturally burn more oil than the M104 due to the lower tension rings in the M112.
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  #8  
Old 03-13-2006, 10:28 AM
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One quart of oil every 5,000 miles is nothing I would be concerned with. At the same time, I do not see any measurable oil use in my ML320 between 6,000 mile changes so I do not think low tension rings have much to do with it. Every engine is slightly different.
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  #9  
Old 03-13-2006, 10:50 AM
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Wink 99 ML320 oil use

I probably change my AmsOil (syn) about every 5000 to 6000 miles and oil use in this car is minimal ... it has about 67K on it now and runs like a top.
Ben Carter
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  #10  
Old 03-13-2006, 12:30 PM
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Granted every engine is different and oil consumption will vary.

IMHO, changing the oil (synthetic Mobil One 0W40) every 10,000 miles is a reasonable interval and easy to keep track of. BTW my FSS Indicator usually shows about a 13,000 mile interval, and this is actually sampling the oil for quality/viscosity/etc.

I attribute my engines longevity, and I very rarely add ANY oil between changes, to:

A long commute at interstate speeds which brings the oil up to temperature burning off moisture and contaminants. NO gunk on oil filler cap.

Using a fleece filter as opposed to regular paper pleated.

Using only Mobil One 0W40 since new

In my accumulated 248,000 miles, I have run an engine flush through it twice.
The drained oil was a little dirtier than usual, so I feel this did remove some deposits and quietened down the lifters on cold startup. If you decide to use one of these products, follow directions..don't drive, don't rev.....just let her idle for five minutes and drain.

Also .......don't overfill !!
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  #11  
Old 03-13-2006, 06:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springerfever
Granted every engine is different and oil consumption will vary.

IMHO, changing the oil (synthetic Mobil One 0W40) every 10,000 miles is a reasonable interval and easy to keep track of. BTW my FSS Indicator usually shows about a 13,000 mile interval, and this is actually sampling the oil for quality/viscosity/etc.

I attribute my engines longevity, and I very rarely add ANY oil between changes, to:

A long commute at interstate speeds which brings the oil up to temperature burning off moisture and contaminants. NO gunk on oil filler cap.

Using a fleece filter as opposed to regular paper pleated.

Using only Mobil One 0W40 since new

In my accumulated 248,000 miles, I have run an engine flush through it twice.
The drained oil was a little dirtier than usual, so I feel this did remove some deposits and quietened down the lifters on cold startup. If you decide to use one of these products, follow directions..don't drive, don't rev.....just let her idle for five minutes and drain.

Also .......don't overfill !!
Just curious Springer, have you replaced your CPS (crank position sensor) yet?
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  #12  
Old 03-13-2006, 07:55 PM
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oil consumption

I cannot, for the life of me, understand how someone will pay 50 to 100 thousand dollars for a Mercedes and then buy into this nonsense that you can go 12000 miles between oil changes...you are killing the heart of that beautiful machine. I agree with one of the previous posts that you should not go any more than 5 k without new oil and filter. I have decided not to go synthetic on my 91 300CE after getting, what I thought was, an excellent argument from a mechanical engineer and have decided to stick with what I have been doing for the past 40 years...oil and filter every 3K I have had several cars break the 250K bearier and will stick with what has worked for me. Oil and filters are far cheaper than an engine overhaul on a benz.

Antonino
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  #13  
Old 03-14-2006, 06:34 AM
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azinn

Believe it or not..........still the original CPS as well as most of the other components........
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  #14  
Old 03-20-2006, 12:07 AM
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Luckily your engine is covered for 150K miles even if you don't have an extended warranty [sludge agreement]...so why be wasteful and change the oil more often than necessary? My previous vehicle ['98 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L] went 10K on Mobil 1 and 15K on Mobil 1 Extended Performance (once it was introduced) for 122K miles with no engine trouble whatsoever, never used a drop of oil, and I drove the holy hell out of that car. Same goes for my father's '96 F150 --- 190K no problems...grandfather's '00 Chevy Silverado [70K], brother's '01 Camry [160K], friend's '94 Volvo 850 Turbo [195K], and the list goes on...and on. The engine in my ML was rebuilt when it had 60K [burned 2 quarts per tank all of a sudden], *but* it only got Rotella until the rebuild (that's what the dealers used).

I heard from someone that worked at the dealer that the 112 engines initially had a piston ring seating problem that caused failure, but MBUSA prefers to call it sludge because it passes the blame somewhat to dino-oil. I don't worry with 229.5 oil --- I will be switching to the well underwritten Mobil 1 Extended performance [not 229.5 approved, only 229.3] once I pass 150K on this one...according to FSS, I've got 'til at least the end of this oil change for that mileage to occur :-)
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  #15  
Old 03-20-2006, 06:12 AM
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99 ML 320 with 115K miles. I change the oil every 4,000 to 5,000 miles and use Mobil 1 synthetic; I know that's probably to frequently but that's my comfort level.

Vehicle burns less than one quart every 5K miles.

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